Education Excellence Awards 2024

Recognising the contribution that early-career academics make to teaching and the student learning experience. The award recognises the important role that Postgraduate Teaching Assistants play in supporting student learning and creating an inclusive and positive student learning environment. It recognises those postgraduates who seek to enhance the educational learning and support opportunities that their students receive. The judges will be looking for an individual who has had a positive impact and influence on the student experience.  

Recognising the important role that programme leads, or equivalent, (e.g. Year or Programme Directors) have in delivering an enhanced, contemporary curriculum that facilitates inclusive learning and provides a high-quality student learning experience. The judges will be looking for an individual who has demonstrated exemplary leadership of a programme team and who has been highly visible to students, actively engaging the student voice in support of enhancing learning.

Recognising the full range of educational leadership that exists in the University and the many ways in which leadership is demonstrated. The award recognises an individual who has used their leadership skills to promote a commitment to inclusive teaching and support for learning. The judges will be looking for an individual who, in their own immediate context and beyond, has supported, guided and/or influenced others to adapt to new ways of enabling or supporting learning and who has had a demonstrably positive impact on the student learning experience.  

Recognising examples of innovation that have had a positive impact on the student learning experience over the last 12 months. This award recognises an individual who has embedded new and innovative approaches to teaching, support for learning and/or assessment within their own context. The judges will be looking for innovation that has had a transformative effect on teaching, support for learning or assessment, that has the potential to be sustainable, and is capable of being replicated or applied in different educational contexts.

Recognising a commitment to developing an inclusive learning environment. This award recognises an individual who has implemented strategies that promote equity, diversity and inclusion in teaching and/or supporting learning. The judges will be looking for good practice in inclusive learning design and evidence of strategies for inclusive education in which all students feel they belong, are respected, and can learn optimally to achieve their full potential.

Recognising a member of staff who has demonstrated a sustained and exceptional commitment to supporting the progress of their students towards academic success.The judges will be looking for evidence of pro-active, student-centred approaches that have had a demonstrable impact on student learning.  

Recognising staff who have made a significant and sustained contribution to enhancing the student experience, who might be based within a variety of different roles, including both academic and professional services. The judges will be looking for evidence of a commitment to facilitating a positive and engaging learning community, and an individual who has been a champion for the student voice and effective in inspiring student learning. 

This award will be student nominated and is run in partnership with the Guild of Students.  The award will recognise the vital role that a personal academic tutor has in supporting and developing their students. The judges will be looking for someone who has supported students and enhanced the student learning experience through effective and high-quality personal tutoring. They will have demonstrated an effective approach to academic support and enabled an environment where staff and students can work collaboratively on developing students’ academic, personal and employability skills using innovative and engaging tutoring techniques.

This award, which is open to both academic and professional services teams, recognises collaborative work that has had a demonstrable impact on teaching, learning assessment or student support. The successful team will have enhanced the student learning experience and demonstrated excellence in collaboration and team working. The judges will be looking for a team who have had a transformative effect on education, that has the potential to be sustainable, and is capable of being replicated or applied in different educational contexts.